Urge Lee Richardson Zoo to Retire Elephants to a Sanctuary

The Lee Richardson Zoo in Garden City, Kan., faces losing its American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) accreditation unless it expands its elephant exhibit. Instead, PETA encourages the zoo to act in the best interests of its two African elephants by retiring them to a sanctuary and permanently closing the elephant exhibit.

At either The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee or the Performing Animal Welfare Society in California, the elephants would have the opportunity to roam through hundreds of acres of natural habitat, play in a pond, forage on fresh vegetation, and enjoy full, healthy, and enriching lives in the company of many other elephants. Because of space limitations, zoos, no matter how well intentioned, simply cannot provide for the physical and social needs of elephants. No amount of expansion at the zoo will give these elephants what is truly necessary to their health and well-being. Even elephants who are kept in facilities that meet the AZA’s minimum space recommendations often suffer from captivity-induced foot ailments and arthritis, which cause intense suffering and premature death.

Six zoos in the United States and five zoos in the United Kingdom have closed their elephant exhibits, citing an inability to provide proper care. Lee Richardson Zoo can become an important part of this progressive trend within the zoo community, which must hold itself accountable for the animals in its care and consider their welfare a priority—even if it means retiring them to a more capable facility.

You can help. Please write polite letters to the city manager, mayor, and zoo director, urging them to make the compassionate decision to send the elephants to The Elephant Sanctuary or PAWS:

Bob Halloran, City Manager
Garden City
301 N. Eighth St.
Garden City, KS 67846
620-276-1160
620-276-1169 (fax)
bhalloran@garden-city.org

The Honorable Jeff Whitham
Mayor of Garden City
P.O. Box 1198
Garden City, KS 67846
620-275-4128
620-275-6259 (fax)
jwhitham@wsbks.com

Kathy Sexson, Director
Lee Richardson Zoo
312 E. Finnup Dr.
Garden City, KS 67846
620-276-1250
620-276-1259 (fax)
ksexson@garden-city.org

For additional information about the plight of elephants in zoos, please visit SaveWildElephants.com.

NM 8035